Fiona Bruce brings an injection of energy to the BBC’s Question Time

Fiona Bruce said earlier in the day that she hadn’t felt so nervous in a long time.

This was her first appearance in the chair of the BBC’s Question Time, the post occupied for a quarter of a century by David Dimbleby, urbane ringmaster of the political bear pit and national treasure. So no pressure, then.

For many panellists, it is a frightening show to do. Even seasoned politicians sometimes shake with nerves before it starts. Mainly that’s because you really don’t know what questions are coming.

In the event Fiona didn’t let her own nerves show. In the green room and to the audience she was warm, jokey and approachable. She wanted energy, she told us panellists.

What we hadn’t expected was that so…

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